About The Sea Spinner: Blazing with reawakened magic, a young woman challenges the tides of fate in this highly anticipated sequel to the #1 Sunday Times bestseller The Wind Weaver. Out April 28th 2026.

Whenever the real world feels inescapably heavy, I like to slip into a fictional one instead. Is there any greater escape than an all-consuming fantasy novel? Or, better yet, a series? Some of my personal favorites draw influence from the myths and legends of old, where fae are more monster than man, stakes are deadly high, and tragedy is tightly interwoven with even the sweetest victory…

Here are six fantasy series recommendations (some contemporary, some classic) that incorporate Irish, Welsh, or Norse mythology.

Daughter of the Forest (The Sevenwaters Series, #1) by Juliet Marillier

Marillier weaves a spellbinding tale of sacrifice and sorcery in this retelling of the Celtic legend of “The Six Swans” where a young woman risks everything to save her brothers from a deadly enchantment. With lush writing and wholly immersive worldbuilding, this classic fantasy seamlessly blends history and mythology. Read it as a standalone or continue on with the other books in the Sevenwaters saga, which follows future generations of the same family through various perils and passions.

Darkfever (The Fever Series, #1) by Karen Marie Moning

Celtic legend collides with the contemporary world in The Fever Series, which follows plucky heroine Mackayla Lane through fae-infested streets of modern Dublin in a quest to track down her sister’s killer. The series draws heavily from Irish mythology throughout all five books (and their later spin-offs), and never shies away from dark subject matter. The monsters are genuinely horrifying, the romance is torturously slow burn, and, the heroine’s steady character development shines through even the grimmest plot twists.

Broken Souls and Bones (Stonegate, #1) by LJ Andrews

The first in a duology, this Norse-inspired fantasy immediately draws you into an intricately penned world full of pulse-pounding danger and devilish plots. It also features one of the most interesting magic systems I’ve come across lately, where practitioners employ different “crafts” of blood, bone, soul, and melding. Andrews’ characters are carefully penned throughout, facing both internal and external struggles as the story progresses. But beware the cliffhanger! You’ll want to dive straight into book two. (Which, luckily, is already available.)

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) by Holly Black

In this first installment of a young adult trilogy, Black tosses her human heroine into the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Infused equally with family drama and fae politics, heartwarming scenes and heart-wrenching twists, it’s difficult to put this book down once you start reading. The lore is rich, the pacing well-penned. The tension never lets up (and I’m not just talking about the delicious enemies-to-lovers dynamic). Don’t let the “young adult” classification scare you off. There’s plenty for grown-ups to enjoy here, too.

A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated Series, #1) by Danielle L. Jensen

This Norse-inspired duology starter serves up an equal portion of romance and fantasy, perfectly balancing sizzling chemistry with magic and action. Between the atmospheric setting and strong cast of side characters, you’ll feel you’re right alongside shield-maiden heroine Freya as she battles to control both her destiny and her goddess-granted powers.

The Wren in the Holly Library (The Oak and Holly Cycle, #1) by K.A. Linde

According to the author’s note at the start of the book, this unique contemporary spin on Celtic mythology was inspired by Linde’s own trip to Ireland, and a particularly formative visit to the library at Trinity College. Here, a post-apocalyptic New York City serves as a playground for fae, druids, monsters, nymphs, vampires, werewolves, and more mythological creatures. Linde’s skillful worldbuilding really shines through, beautifully layered without ever feeling bogged down. (Trolls in the subway? That’s pure fantasy fun!)

PS: My own fantasy trilogy begins with The Wind Weaver, a tale inspired by the Welsh goddess Rhiannon. (And the Fleetwood Mac song of the same name.) The rich folklore found in the Mabinogion collection of Welsh stories helped me immensely in shaping the world of Anwyvn and its fraught political structures. Page one drops you into a huge, war-ravaged realm where the fae have been hunted down and possessing magic is punishable by death… 

The post Six Fully-Immersive Fantasy Series Featuring Celtic or Norse Mythology appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

When the king discovers her rare magical abilities, Lyra is summoned to the royal court to serve as his melder; an esteemed but precarious position bound to his will. Navigating the treacherous etiquette of court life while uncovering the limits of her powers, she becomes entangled in volatile rivalries. The king assigns Roark, his fiercely loyal sentry, and the man who first took her captive, to guard her. But as Lyra learns the darker truths of her magic and the kingdom’s fragile balance of power, she becomes a pivotal piece in a deadly game that could alter the fate of everyone she loves.

Andrews’ writing is descriptive, engaging, and wildly imaginative. Through alternating points of view, she offers contrasting perspectives that deepen both the plot and the characters’ inner lives. The worldbuilding unfolds organically, with each revelation of the magical workings of this world  intertwined with the shifting loyalties and personal histories that drive the story forward. From dangerous confrontations with deadly foes to moments of unexpected tenderness, Andrews crafts a setting that feels alive, slowly revealing its secrets until the final, emotional moments that leave the reader eager for the next book.

The characters are, undeniably, the central focus of this novel. Lyra, loyal yet reserved, carries the weight of her abilities in every interaction. Her arrival at the king’s castle sparks a chain of events with kingdom-wide repercussions. Roark, the stoic and devoted sentry, finds himself drawn into Lyra’s orbit despite his sworn duty to the crown. The other characters surrounding Lyra and Roark are equally compelling, with each forced to confront impossible choices and decide where their loyalties truly lie.

At its core, Broken Souls and Bones is a story of resilience; facing the impossible, navigating uncertainty, and persevering even in moments of apparent ease. Andrews weaves in themes of friendship, trust, and courage with subtlety, showing that individuals can embody multiple, sometimes conflicting, roles in the lives of others.

While there are moments when the magical systems’ explanations feel a bit unclear, these are fleeting and quickly outweighed by the novel’s compelling plot, layered characters, and gradual unveiling of the kingdom’s deeper mysteries.

Broken Souls and Bones is an intense and emotional adventure; one that celebrates loyalty and friendship while warning of the dangers that lurk in a world where every alliance has a cost. Readers who enjoy richly imagined worlds, slow-burn romance, and courtly intrigue will find much to love here. Fans of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen will be especially drawn to Andrews’ mix of magic, politics, and high-stakes relationships.

Broken Souls and Bones is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Broken Souls and Bones? Tell us in the comments below!

Together they’ll restore a divided kingdom—or burn it down—in this new romantasy from USA Today bestselling author and TikTok sensation LJ Andrews.

Lyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic-obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwood—the prince’s silent guard and rumored killer for the crown—invades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, she’s forced to reveal her abilities, and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder.

To be the King’s melder is to be revered and feared in equal measures, but above all it is a slow death sentence. Lyra is determined to find a way to free herself and her friends from bondage. But first she must get more information from the silent, brooding sentry who first took her captive: Roark.

As Lyra gets closer to Roark, she soon learns he’s nothing like she assumed—and in fact everything she needs. The more they work as allies, the harder it becomes to ignore the growing passion between them. After a sinister truth is revealed, Roark and Lyra must choose to stand against all they know, or accept their dark destiny.

The post Review: Broken Souls and Bones by L.J. Andrews appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About Broken Souls and Bones: Together they’ll restore a divided kingdom—or burn it down—in this new romantasy from USA Today bestselling author and TikTok sensation LJ Andrews.

Morally gray characters are beloved and celebrated in romantasy (fantasy romance). But when did loving the more villainous characters become more appealing than the most valiant heroes?

This is one of the complexities I wanted to explore in my latest book, Broken Souls and Bones. It’s a common theme in the story that we all have a darkness inside us, but how we embrace it, accept it, and use it is what forms the line of right and wrong.

There is something fascinating and intoxicating about characters who cross the line for those they love—a distinguishing trait compared to the villains who will cross those lines for themselves alone—and it is more than a beloved trope.

I believe the aspect of morally gray characters gives us a glimpse of how far we might go to protect those we hold deep in our hearts. Yes, it’s fantasy, but there is something relatable about the notion of being so fiercely in love, or so fiercely protective, that you would cross a line that to some could leave you perceived as more villain than hero.

In Broken Souls and Bones the underlying theme is that to see a true heart we must see the darker edges. It is how we truly come to know someone. It is a story about a passionate romance, but also a brutal world with twisted politics, magic that causes more chaos than good, and finding the darkness of another soul and loving them anyway.

Some of this theme can be seen in the following excerpt from Broken Souls and Bones. Note: the MMC of the book uses sign language so his dialogue is italicized:

***

She dragged her plump bottom lip between her teeth. Her fingertip traced the wolf head stitched over my gambeson. “You are unexpected, Roark Ashwood.”

And you’d be wise to keep a distance. I did not lie when I said I am not a good man.

She stepped closer, arching her neck so our noses nearly touched. “You never truly know a heart until you see the darkness inside. I might like to see yours.”

I tilted her chin, our noses grazing, my fingers danced against her cheek. Lyra closed her eyes, listening, feeling the words. That would be a mistake.

***

While the trope of morally gray is a blast to read (who wouldn’t want someone so ridiculously in love with them, they’d tear down kingdoms to keep us alive) it also explores more layers to the human existence. It is deep, passionate, and can speak to many of us by causing us to ask ourselves: How far would we go for the ones we love?

The post Blurred Lines of Heroes and Villains appeared first on The Nerd Daily.